Marine killed in clash with Palm Springs police

Officers say they fired to protect themselves

PALM SPRINGS  Palm Springs police shot and killed a Camp Pendleton Marine who drove his car at one of the officers inside a parking garage early Saturday, and said they found stolen items in the vehicle and on the slain driver.

The Desert Sun newspaper said family members identified him as Cpl. Allan DeVillena II, 22, of San Jose.

The incident began about 2 a.m. when two officers were on bicycle patrol outside the garage after downtown bar closures, said police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff.

They heard yelling in the garage, and as they went inside, the two men shouted derogatory comments, Kovaleff said.

The driver refused orders to turn off the car, and one officer climbed partway in a passenger-side window to turn off the ignition. Police said the driver accelerated toward the other officer, striking him. With one officer still in the window, he crashed the vehicle near the exit.

At some point, the officers both fired to protect themselves and others, Kovaleff said. The driver was killed. The passenger, who also was a Camp Pendleton Marine, was unhurt.

Both officers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released.

About the same time, Palm Springs police were investigating the theft of a wallet and iPhone from a man in the downtown area. The victim’s phone was tracked to the garage through an application on the device. It was recovered from the slain driver’s car, Kovaleff said. The victim’s ID card and his ATM card were later found in the driver’s pants pockets, the sergeant said.

Palm Springs Police Chief Al Franz told reporters during a briefing Monday that both Marines had previously been contacted by police for possible public intoxication.

Both officers have been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.